Modularized eyewear systems, apparatuses, and methods

ABSTRACT

Systems, apparatuses, and methods are taught that provide reconfigurable components for eyewear devices. A reconfigurable component for use in an eyewear device, includes a first temple. The first temple is configured for use with the eyewear device. The first temple further includes a first engagement portion. The first temple includes a first temple insert module (TIM). The first temple insert module is releasably couplable with the first engagement portion. The reconfigurable component can include at least one of a sensor and a display. The first temple insert module further includes a first wireless communication system. The first wireless communication system is configured to communicate wirelessly with a user device. The first temple insert module further includes a processor and a first speaker. The processor is configured to receive an input from at least one of the sensor and the first wireless communication system and to generate an output. At least one of the first speaker and the display are configured to receive the output. In operation, when a user wears the eyewear device the user can hear audio broadcast from the first speaker when the first wireless communication system is in an on state and may see an image with the display.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority from co-pending U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/778,709 entitled “Modularized Eyewear System with Interchangeable Frame and Temples with Embedded Electronics for Mobile Audio-Visual Augmented and Assisted Reality,” filed on Dec. 12, 2018. U.S. provisional patent application No. 62/778,709 entitled “Modularized Eyewear System with Interchangeable Frame and Temples with Embedded Electronics for Mobile Audio-Visual Augmented and Assisted Reality,” is hereby fully incorporated by reference. This application claims priority from co-pending U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/873,889 entitled “Wearable Devices Apparatuses, Systems, And Methods,” filed on Jul. 13, 2019. U.S. provisional patent application No. 62/873,889 entitled “Wearable Devices Apparatuses, Systems, And Methods,” is hereby fully incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION I. Technical Field

The invention relates generally to eyewear devices, and more particularly to apparatuses, methods, and systems for providing information to a user through a modularized eyewear device.

2. Background

The pace of modern life moves at a fast past. A person is often placed under the constraint of time and is placed in situations where his or her hands are occupied and information is not accessible to the person. This can present a problem. Currently available eyewear such as prescription glasses, e.g., prescription reading glasses or prescription sunglasses are expensive and are not readily reconfigured to different user's needs. This can present a problem. Personalized sound transmission is often done with an occlusive in ear device known as an earphone or earbud. Such a device obstructs the ear canal and can interfere with a user's hearing of far field sounds. This can present a problem. Thus, problems exist that requires technical solutions that uses technical means to produce technical effects.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention may best be understood by referring to the following description and accompanying drawings that are used to illustrate embodiments of the invention. The invention is illustrated by way of example in the embodiments and is not limited in the figures of the accompanying drawings, in which like references indicate similar elements.

FIG. 1 illustrates a modular reconfigurable eyewear system, according to embodiments of the invention.

FIG. 2 illustrates a reconfigurable component for an eyewear device, according to embodiments of the invention.

FIG. 3 illustrates multiple reconfigurable components for an eyewear device, according to embodiments of the invention.

FIG. 4 illustrates another reconfigurable modularized eyewear system, according to embodiments of the invention.

FIG. 5 illustrates a perceptive view and a top view of the modularized eyewear system from FIG. 4, according to embodiments of the invention.

FIG. 6A illustrates a system architecture for a modularized eyewear device, according to embodiments of the invention.

FIG. 6B illustrates wireless networks corresponding to the system architecture for the modularized eyewear device of FIG. 6A, according to embodiments of the invention.

FIG. 7 illustrates another system architecture for the modularized eyewear device of FIG. 4, according to embodiments of the invention.

FIG. 8 illustrates a block diagram of a temple insert module, according to embodiments of the invention.

FIG. 9 illustrates a modularized eyewear device fitted with a behind the neck module assembly, according to embodiments of the invention.

FIG. 10 illustrates a behind the neck module assembly in perspective view configured with a wearable device, according to embodiments of the invention.

FIG. 11 illustrates coupling a temple interlock to a temple according to embodiments of the invention.

FIG. 12 illustrates coupling a behind the neck module to electronics contained within a temple, according to embodiments of the invention.

FIG. 13 illustrates a schematic for combining a behind the neck module assembly with temple electronics, according to embodiments of the invention.

FIG. 14 illustrates a user interface on a behind the neck module assembly, according to embodiments of the invention.

FIG. 15 illustrates a block diagram for a behind the neck electronics unit, according to embodiments of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following detailed description of embodiments of the invention, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, in which like references indicate similar elements, and in which is shown by way of illustration, specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. These embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those of skill in the art to practice the invention. In other instances, well-known circuits, structures, and techniques have not been shown in detail in order not to obscure the understanding of this description. The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of the invention is defined only by the appended claims.

In one or more embodiments, methods, apparatuses, and systems are described, that provide modularization of an eyewear system for a user. As described in the description of embodiments below, various combinations and configurations of electronics are taught for incorporation into eyewear devices. Some electronics configurations are removably couplable to an eyewear device. In some embodiments, an electronics configuration is built-into an eyewear device. In yet other embodiments, a behind the neck module assembly is releasably couplable with an eyewear device. In various embodiments, the modularized reconfigurable eyewear devices provide information to a user through the eyewear device. As used in this description of embodiments, information includes streaming audio in the form of music, information also includes parameters of a user's biology (e.g., biometrics of physiology, biomechanics, etc.) such as, but not limited to; heart rate, breathing rate, posture, steps, cadence, etc. Information also includes information of interest to a user such as, but not limited to; information on a vehicle that a user is using such as; revolutions per minute (RPM) of a bicycle, engine parameters such as RPM, oil pressure, cooling water temperature, wind speed, depth of water, air speed, etc. In various embodiments, information is presented to a user through an eyewear device by, for example, an audio broadcast that a user hears and a video broadcast to a display that the user sees in the eyewear device, or sees as an image as projected onto a pupil of the user's eye. Thus, information is to be given an expansive meaning within the scope of embodiments taught herein.

FIG. 1 illustrates a modular reconfigurable eyewear system, according to embodiments of the invention. With reference to FIG. 1, a modularized eyewear device is shown in perspective view at 100. The modularized eyewear device 100 has a frame chassis 102. In various embodiments, the frame chassis 102 is ophthalmically constructed to provide frame rim portions that hold lens 120 and lens 122. The lens 120 and 122 can provide any of the functions that eyewear devices provide, such as but not limited to, a safety glass lens, a prescriptive lens, a sunglass lens, a welding glass lens, etc. An eyewear device can also contain a single lens instead of the dual lens illustrated. In some embodiments, a nose pad is provided, thereby providing a cushion for the contact zone with a user's nose. In some embodiments, the nose pad is made from a compliant material such as silicon rubber.

A temple 104 (left temple) and a temple 114 (right temple) are coupled to the frame chassis 102. The temples 104 and 114 can be flexibly coupled to the frame chassis 102, with hinges as shown in the figure or the temples 104 and 114 can be provided with a fixed orientation relative to the frame chassis 102.

In various embodiments, one or more temples (104 and 114) and the chassis frame 102 can be fitted with electronics as described below. Within the view of 100, a left temple insert module (TIM) 106 is configured with the left temple 104 and a right temple insert module (TIM) 116 is configured with the right temple 114. Temple insert modules (TIMs) are described more fully in conjunction with the figures below.

With continued reference to FIG. 1, a modularized eyewear device is shown in exploded view at 130. A frame chassis 132 is ophthalmically constructed to encircle a lens 140 and a lens 142 with a frame rim thereby securing the lens 140 and the lens 142 thereto. A brow bar 146 is fastened to the frame chassis 132 in various ways, via assembly fasteners, adhesive, etc. A left temple 144 includes a left temple connector 152 which is rotatably coupleable with a left chassis connector 150. Together, the left chassis connector 150 and the left temple connector 152 form a rotatable mechanical and electrical connection between the chassis 132 and the left temple 144, thereby providing one or more electrical pathways to connect the frame chassis 132 to the left temple 144. Similarly, a right temple 134 is rotatably coupleable to the frame chassis 132 through a right hinge assembly 148.

Note that in some embodiments, a modularized eyewear device is configured such that each temple can be removed from its hinge via an electrical/mechanical connector having one or more electrical contacts, not shown for clarity in the illustration. These electrical contact points can be made using, for example, pins, points, pads, slots, contact devices, etc. For example, the line indicated at 154 demarcates the mating of the right temple connector with the right temple 134. Similarly, the line indicated at 156 demarcates the mating of the left temple connector 152 with the left temple 144.

Through the provision of electrical/mechanical connectors between each temple, e.g., 134, 144 and the frame chassis 132 the temples are interchangeable with the eyewear device. This functionality permits a user to interchange one temple with another. Different temples can be configured with different electronics to provide different functionality as described herein. Either temple can be configured to accommodate various electronics configurations. For example, in one or more embodiments, the right interchangeable temple accommodates an electronics package that can include one or more of; a biometric sensor, a biomechanical sensor, a vehicle sensor, an environmental sensor, a temperature sensor, an acoustic sensor, a motion sensor, a light sensor, a touch sensor, a proximity sensor, a velocity sensor, an acceleration sensor, a rotation sensor, a magnetic field sensor, a global position system (GPS) receiver, cables, microphones, a micro speaker, a source of electrical power (battery), a camera, a micro display, a heads-up display (HUD) module, a multiaxis inertial measurement unit, a wireless communications system. Note that a TIM can also contain the electronics package and sensor(s) described above. In various embodiments, one or more wireless communication system are provided that utilize for example; near-field communications (NFC) using the industrial-scientific-medical (ISM) frequency of 13.56 MHz, the Adaptive Network Topology (ANT) ANT+ wireless standard, wireless communications using a Bluetooth standard, a Bluetooth low energy standard (BLE), wireless communication using a Wi-Fi standard, and wireless communication using mobile telephone standards such as for example the 3G, 4G, Long Term Evolution (LTE), 5G, etc. standard or other wireless standards. In some embodiments, electrical pathways from the electronics exit a temple via a sheath cavity and travel into a temple sheath and continue into a brow bar sheath cavity. The right interchangeable temple contains a hinge-connector 148 that fastens to the brow bar 146 and chassis frame 132.

In one or more embodiments, the right interchangeable temple attaches to the front of the frame chassis via a hinge-connector that allows for power and data transferred to the left interchangeable temple through the modular brow bar. The hinge-connector mechanically interlocks with the frame chassis and allows for power/data connectivity with electrical pin conductors. In one or more embodiments, when positioned in the open direction of wearing, the hinge-connectors sense the open state of the device allowing for power or data transfer. When in the closed position (temples folded inward), the hinge-connector in conjunction with signals received from one or more of proximity sensors and motion sensors will allow the system to sense the user-device interaction state and will deactivate the power or data transfer. This function leads to reduced power consumption when folded and stowed and can lead to automatic power up while a user wears the device on his or her head. In addition to switchable data or power transfer from the hinge-connector, the hinge-connector can provide flexible circuits and wired micro-connectors that provide steady uninterrupted power and or data transfer.

In some embodiments, it is convenient to route electrical pathways within a volume of the brow bar 146. In some embodiments, the brow bar 146 is constructed to provide a channel along its length, within which the electrical pathways are routed. Thus, the brow bar 146 provides one or more sheaths, channels, etc. along its length within which electrical pathways and sensors can be contained. Examples of electrical pathways are, but are not limited to; wires, printed circuit board, flexible printed circuit board, etc. In various embodiments, it is advantageous to mount one or more sensors to the brow bar 146, thereby making an electrical sub-assembly for the frame chassis 132. In some embodiments, additional electrical pathways from the frame chassis 132 are joined with the electrical pathway contained in the brow bar 146. In some embodiments, a flexible electronic circuit is adhered to the underside top face of the brow bar and exits the brow bar via the left and right sheath cavities. Alternatively, or in combination, fully embedded flexible electronics may be cast into the brow bar with integrated contact points exiting the brow bar near each hinge. These integrated contact points on both sides of the brow bar allow transmission of data or power when in contact with the integrated contact points of the right and left temple. In addition to facilitating connection to electronics, the brow bar can conceal an optional pupil module by a securing flange and allows the user to view a microdisplay via the brow bar pupil aperture.

In similar fashion the left temple is configured as a left interchangeable temple connected to the front frame of the eyewear with a left hinge-connector. In various embodiments, the left interchangeable temple can contain the same electronics configuration/functionality as the right interchangeable temple or interchangeable temples can contain different electronics configurations and different functionality.

With continued reference to FIG. 1, a left temple 164 and right temple 174 are configured as shown at 160. Each of the temples 164 and 174 contain electronics which are configured to provide information and functionality to a user of the eyewear system. As shown at 160, the left temple 164 has a temple door (not shown) removed thereby exposing an electronics package indicated at 186. The temple door secures and protects electronics from environmental exposure and hazard. The temple door is secured to the temple assembly with suitable mechanical fasteners for a given application. In some embodiments, the temple door provides a rating with respect to water intrusion via an IP Code from International Protection Marking IEC standard 60529. A source of electrical power (battery) is illustrated at 184 and an audio speaker and port is illustrated at 182. The audio speaker and port 182 is generally located on a posterior end of a temple and in some embodiments is an integrated directional projection speaker that privately directs sound to a user's ear. Projection stereo speakers can communicate various audio signals to the user, such as but not limited to, voice prompts, streaming music, smart audio assistance, data, etc. Notably, the projection speaker design does not occlude the user's ear. Thus, the user can hear far field sounds and the far field sounds are not degraded as they are with currently available earbud style headphones that occlude a user's ear.

The right temple 174 is also provided with an electronics package (not shown in the view) contained within the right temple 174. The right temple is provided with an audio speaker with audio speaker port 184, which can be an integrated directional projection speaker. In one or more embodiments, the right temple 174 is configured to accommodate an external assembly 190 that contains a micro display assembly 192. Similarly, the left temple could be configured for the external assembly 190 and the micro display assembly 192.

In various embodiments, a micro display assembly, such as 192, is a head up display (HUD) Pupil™ Optics Module that houses the optics, electronics, and micro display that form the optical system. The pupil mechanism also may house cables, flexible circuit boards, or wires which exit from a housing into an electronics contact pathway. In one or more embodiments, these electrical pathways are connected to a side of the left temple 174 to enable the user with a see-through head up display external accessory to enhance a visual component of a mobile reality experience.

In one or more embodiments, wiring which exits the brow bar is concealed in the right and left sheaths of the temples and enters into the right and left temples via the sheath cavities, thereby protecting the wiring from environmental hazards. The area near the contact pathway may also accommodate motion mechanisms for customizing the interpupillary distance of the head-up micro display module.

In different embodiments, the front frame portion, such as 102 or 132 (FIG. 1) or any similar structure in the figures below, and the right and left temple portions, such as 104, 114, 134, 144, 164, 174 (FIG. 1) or any similar structures in the figures below, can be part of a set of interchangeable front frame portions and temple portions each having the same or different combinations of devices, accessories, capabilities and/or functions. At least one of an electronics board, microphones, speakers, battery, camera, heads-up display module, wireless Wi-Fi radio, GPS chipset, LTE cellular radio, multiaxis inertial measurement unit, motion sensor, touch sensor, light and proximity sensors, etc. can be included in desired combinations. Electronics can be further included that permit a user to perform at least one of; wirelessly connecting to a cellular service, a smart phone, a smart watch, a smart bracelet, a mobile computer, and a sensor peripheral. The electronics can further include the ability to; view see-through augmented reality images via a modular head up display (HUD), provide stereo audio content, provide voice and audio notification including music through one or more integrated projection micro-speakers. The front frame electrical contact devices and the temple electrical contact devices can include electrical contact points in or near respective hinge connectors for removable electrical contact with each other for electrically transmitting at least one of; power, electrical signals and data between the temple portions and the front frame portion when the contact points are in an electrically closed position. In some embodiments when assembled together, the front frame hinge connectors, the front frame electrical contact devices, the temple hinge connectors and the temple electrical contact devices can form electromechanical hinges, hinge connectors, assemblies or devices. In some embodiments, system electrical power can be turned off by folding the temple portions into a storage position thereby disconnecting the contact points.

In some embodiments, at least one of the front frame electronics and the temple electronics can include at least one of a battery, camera, heads-up display module, controller, digital storage electronics, CPU, projection micro-speaker, microphone, wireless Wi-Fi radio, GPS chipset, LTE cellular radio, multiaxis inertial measurement system or unit, and sensory, motion, touch, light, proximity, temperature and pressure sensors, etc.

In some embodiments, at least one temple can include a temple module insert (TIM) containing selected temple electronics, mounted thereto. In other embodiments, a neck smart cord is electrically connected to a behind the neck electronics module. The neck smart cord has right and left connectors or connector ends for mechanically and or electrically interconnecting the behind the neck electronics module with the right and left temples of an eyewear device.

FIG. 2 illustrates a reconfigurable component for an eyewear device, according to embodiments of the invention. With reference to FIG. 2 at 200, a temple 202 is provided with an engagement portion 204. A temple insert module, referred to in this description of embodiments as a “TIM” at 210 is configured to be releasably coupleable with the engagement portion 204 of the temple 202. The TIM 210 is installed into the temple 202 as indicated by arrows 212 a and 212 b. In various embodiments, the engagement portion 204 is accomplished by a mechanical connection, such as but not limited to; press fit, clip, mechanical interlock, hook and loop, magnetic surface, external clamp to temple, flange and mechanical coupling to temple, etc. In yet other embodiments the engagement portion 204 and the TIM 210 utilize magnetic surfaces, thereby holding the TIM 210 secure by magnetic attraction. The form of the engagement portion shown at 204, as well as the form of any engagement portion illustrated elsewhere in the figures presented herein, is given merely for illustration and does not limit embodiments of the invention. In the view illustrated at 200, the TIM 210 only makes a mechanical connection with the temple 202 no electrical connection is provided between the TIM 210 and the temple 202.

In some embodiments, the TIM 210 is provided with a speaker and speaker port 214, which can be a micro projection speaker. The speaker provides information to a user through an audio broadcast. Note that the speakers provided herein are speakers that are located externally from a user's ear and are therefore not inserted into the user's ear like an earbud is inserted. The TIM 210 is configured with an electronics package that contains a processor, memory, electrical power, and one or more wireless communication protocols that enable the TIM 210 to communicate wirelessly 222 with one or more devices 220. The device 220 can be an external sensor such as, but not limited to; a biometric sensor or a vehicle sensor, a local user device, a network node, such as a wireless router, a remote network, or a remote user device such as a mobile phone accessed through a network. Different sensors, networks, and remote devices are described more fully in conjunction with the figures below.

Following the architecture of FIG. 2 at 200, in some embodiments, a second temple and a second TIM are provided. The two TIMs in such a system can engage in wireless communication between the device 220 and between themselves as needed to provide a level of design functionality to a user. For example, in one embodiment, a left TIM includes wireless network capability sufficient to communicate with the remote device 220, utilizing a first network protocol. In addition, the left TIM and the right TIM are provided with wireless network capability that supports communication utilizing a second network protocol. In order to conserve electrical power, the first network protocol has a greater range than the second network protocol because a distance between the left TIM and the remote device is greater than a separation distance between the left TIM and the right TIM (nominally a width of user's head). The architecture illustrated at 200 is referred to as true wireless because there is no wired connection between the left TIM and the right TIM. In one or more embodiments, an audio stream is provided from a user device to a first TIM utilizing a first wireless network. Then a second wireless audio stream is provided from one TIM to the other TIM utilizing a second wireless network in order to provide the audio stream to each of a left and a right projection speakers of the eyewear device.

The temples and TIMs described at 200 provide reconfigurable components for eyewear devices as described in conjunction with the figures herein. A forward end 206 of the temple 202 is engageable with a frame chassis of an eyewear device as described above with or without a connector between a temple and a frame. Thus, the temple 202 can attain a fixed position relative to a frame chassis or the temple can be rotatably coupled to the frame chassis depending on a give design of the eyewear.

With reference to FIG. 2 at 250, a temple 252 is provided with an engagement portion 254. A temple insert module, TIM at 260, is configured to be releasably coupleable with the engagement portion 254 of the temple 252. The TIM 260 is installed into the temple 252 as indicated by arrows 262 a and 262 b. In various embodiments, the engagement portion 204 is accomplished by a combined electrical and mechanical connection. The mechanical connection can be as described in conjunction with 210/204 such as, but not limited to: press fit, clip, mechanical interlock, hook and loop, etc. In yet other embodiments the engagement portion 254 and the TIM 260 utilize magnetic surfaces, thereby holding the TIM 260 secure by magnetic attraction. A number of electrical contacts 280 are provided for illustration with no limitation implied thereby. The electrical contacts 280 mate with corresponding electrical contacts in the temple 252 thereby providing electrical connection to one or more electrical pathways (not shown) in the temple 252. The electrical pathways within the temple 252 facilitate electrical connection between the TIM 260 and one or more sensors 272 and 274, which can also represent a source of signals provided to a display(s). The sensors 272 and 274 can be acoustic sensors such as microphones or any of the sensors described herein for use in conjunction with electronics packages configured with eyewear devices. In one or more embodiments, one or more of 272 and 274 provide signals to a display such as a HUD.

In some embodiments, the TIM 260 is provided with a speaker and speaker port 264, which can be a micro projection speaker. The speaker provides information to a user through an open-ear audio broadcast.

Following the architecture of FIG. 2 at 250, in some embodiments, a second temple and a second TIM are provided, as shown below in FIG. 3. The two TIMs in such a system engage in wireless communication between the device 220 and between themselves as needed to provide a level of design functionality to a user. The temples and TIMs described at 250 provide reconfigurable components for eyewear devices as described in conjunction with the figures herein. For example, a forward end 256 of the temple 252 is engageable with a frame chassis of an eyewear device as described above with or without a connector between a temple and a frame. Thus, the temple 252 can attain a fixed position relative to a frame chassis or the temple can be rotatably coupled to the frame chassis depending on a given design of the eyewear.

FIG. 3 illustrates, at 300, multiple reconfigurable components for an eyewear device, according to embodiments of the invention. With reference to FIG. 3 at 300, the left reconfigurable component 250 from FIG. 2 is illustrated with a companion right reconfigurable component for an eyewear device. A right temple 352 has an engagement portion that is not shown in FIG. 3 but is similar to the engagement portion 254 of the left temple 252. A temple insert module, TIM at 360 is configured to be releasably coupleable with the engagement portion of the temple 352. The TIM 360 is couple with the temple 352 as indicated by arrows 362 a and 362 b. In various embodiments, the engagement portion of the temple 352 is accomplished by a combined electrical and mechanical connection. The mechanical connection can be provided as described above in conjunction with 210/204 such as, but not limited to; press fit, clip, mechanical interlock, hook and loop, etc. In yet other embodiments the engagement portion of the temple 352 and the TIM 360 utilize magnetic surfaces, thereby holding the TIM 360 secure by magnetic attraction. Several electrical contacts 380 are provided for illustration with no limitation implied thereby. The electrical contacts 380 mate with corresponding electrical contacts in the temple 352 thereby providing electrical connection to one or more electrical pathways (not shown) in the temple 352. The electrical pathways within the temple 352 facilitate electrical connection between the TIM 360 and one or more sensors 372 and 374. The sensors 372 and 374 can be acoustic sensors such as microphones or any of the sensors or displays described herein for use in conjunction with electronics packages configured with eyewear devices. In various embodiments, the TIM 360 is configured with an electronics package that contains a processor, memory, electrical power, and one or more wireless communication systems using protocols that enable the TIM 360 to communicate wirelessly as indicated by a wireless transmission at 222 with one or more devices 220. In addition, the TIM 360 and the TIM 260 can be configured with wireless communication capability that permits wireless communication between the TIMs as indicated by a wireless transmission at 382. In some embodiments, the TIM 360 is provided with a speaker and a speaker port indicated at 364, which can be a micro projection speaker. The speaker provides information to a user through an audio broadcast.

With reference to view 390 of FIG. 3, electrical connectivity schematics are illustrated for each of TIM 260 and TIM 360. The TIM 260 is electrically coupled to the sensor 272 with an electrical pathway 394. Similarly, the TIM 260 is electrically coupled to the sensor 274 by an electrical pathway 392. The connectivity illustrated between the TIM 260 and the respective sensors constitutes a left temple electrical schematic 384. Note that the left temple electrical schematic 384 can be more complex or less complex that the illustration. Thus, the left temple electrical schematic is provided merely for illustration with no limitation implied thereby.

Similarly, the TIM 360 is electrically coupled to the sensor 372 with an electrical pathway 398. The TIM 260 is electrically coupled to the sensor 374 by an electrical pathway 396. The connectivity illustrated between the TIM 360 and the respective sensors constitutes a right temple electrical schematic 386. Note that the right temple electrical schematic 386 can be more complex or less complex that the illustration. Thus, the right electrical schematic is provided merely for illustration with no limitation implied thereby.

The two TIMs in such a system engage in wireless communication between the device 220 and between themselves as needed to provide a level of design functionality to a user. For example, in one embodiment, a left TIM includes wireless network capability sufficient to communicate with the remote device 220, utilizing a first network protocol. In addition, the left TIM and the right TIM are provided with wireless network capability that supports wireless communication as indicated at 382. The wireless communication 382 can be performed with a second network protocol, which is different from that used at 222. In order to conserve electrical power, the first network protocol (222) has a greater range than the second network protocol (382) because a separation distance between the left TIM 260 and the remote device 220 is greater than a separation distance between the left TIM 260 and the right TIM 360, the latter is nominally a width of user's head and the former can be as much as a distance to a mobile telephone cellular tower.

FIG. 4 illustrates another reconfigurable modularized eyewear system, according to embodiments of the invention. With reference to FIG. 4, one or more of sensors, power components, and computational units are distributed throughout an eyewear device, including distributed throughout a frame chassis such as 402. A frame chassis 402 is ophthalmically constructed to encircle lens 440 with frame rims thereby securing the lens 440 thereto. A left temple 404 are a right temple 414 are coupled to the frame chassis 402, thereby forming an eyewear device. The left temple 404 is configured with an engagement portion indicated at 408. A left temple insert module (TIM) 406 is configured as described above to engage with the engagement portion 408, thereby providing both mechanical and electrical connection between the TIM 406 and the temple 404. Similarly, a right temple 426 is illustrated as engaged with the engagement portion of the right temple 414. The TIM 406 contains an audio speaker and audio port indicated at 410 and the TIM 426 contains an audio speaker and audio port indicated at 430. In various embodiments, the audio speakers of 410 and 430 are projection speakers. The eyewear device includes several sensors or display(s), 462, 464, 466, 468, and 470 that are integrated into an electrical pathway that extends from the left temple 404 through the frame chassis 402 to the right temple 414. In various embodiments there can be more sensors or less sensors that those shown in FIG. 4. The sensors and the locations of the sensors shown in FIG. 4 are provided merely as an illustration and do not limit embodiments of the invention. As described above in conjunction with the previous figures, at least one of the temple insert modules, 406 and or 426, are provided with a suite of electronics necessary to provide wirelessly connectivity 222 to a device 220.

In the eyewear device of 400, a high-level view of an electrical pathway schematic is shown at 480. With reference to 480, the left TIM 406 and the right TIM 426 are electrically coupled with sensors 462, 464, 466, 468, and 470 by electrical pathway elements 482, 484, 486, 488, 490, and 492. An electrical pathway element, such as 484, electrically connects the sensor 464. Together, the components shown in 480 provide a modularized reconfigurable set of components for an eyewear device. In one or more embodiments, one or more acoustic sensors are located in at least one of, the frame chassis 402, the left temple 404, and the right temple 414. Thus, acoustic sensors can be located anywhere on a temple (left or right) or a frame chassis of the eyewear device.

FIG. 5 illustrates, generally at 500, a perceptive view and a top view of the modularized eyewear system from FIG. 4, according to embodiments of the invention. With reference to FIG. 5, a modularized eyewear device is illustrated in perspective view at 502. A modularized nose pad 504 is releasably couplable as indicated at 506 with the modularized eyewear device 502. Modularization of nose pads permits a user to swap nose pads in order to improve the fit between the eyewear and the user's nose and facial structure. A greater level of comfort can be achieved through modularization of the nose pad of the eyewear device. In addition, other sensors such as a biometric sensor can be provided in the nose pad.

FIG. 6A illustrates, generally at 600, a system architecture for a modularized eyewear device, according to embodiments of the invention. With reference to FIG. 6A, in various embodiments, a modularized reconfigurable eyewear device can contain more than one wireless communication system. In various embodiments, an eyewear device 602 has a high-level block diagram architecture as shown at 604. In various embodiments, the eyewear device 602 is configured to communicate with a wireless sensor 640 and a mobile device 670. The wireless sensor 640 can contain a single sensor or a plurality of sensors. The wireless sensor 640 can contain any one or more of the sensors listed herein without limitation. For example, the wireless sensor 640 can include a biometric sensor or biomechanical sensor configured for use with a user or a sensor configured for use with a vehicle or building. Some examples of biometric sensors are, but are not limited to; a heart rate monitor, a perspiration sensor, a temperature sensor, etc. Some examples, of vehicle sensors are, but are not limited to; a velocity sensor, an acceleration sensor, a global position system signal, a vehicle engine parameter, a wind speed indicator, etc. Some examples of sensors for use with a building are, but are not limited to; a temperature reading from a thermostat, a water pressure value, etc. Some non-limiting examples of vehicles are, but are not limited to; a scooter, bicycle, an automobile, a boat, a yacht, a watercraft, an airplane, a military vehicle, a wing suit, etc. In some embodiments, data is received at 640 and or 616 from a special use network. An example, of a special use network, given for illustration with no imitation implied thereby, is a National Marine Electronics Association (NMEA) NMEA 2000 network designed for watercraft such as yachts (power or sail). NMEA 2000, also referred to in the art as “NMEA2k” or “N2K” is standardized as International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) 61162-1. NMEA 200 is a plug-and-play communications standard used for connecting marine sensors and display units within ships, boats, yachts, etc. The mobile device 670 can be any one or more of the mobile devices listed herein without limitation. For example, the mobile device can be a mobile phone, a watch, a wrist band, a bracelet, a tablet computer, a laptop computer, a desktop computer, a vehicle computer, etc.

The eyewear device 602 has a high-level architecture, represented at 604, that contains a speaker 606, a central processing unit 608, a source of electrical power 610, an acoustic sensor 608, a storage device 614, and a wireless communication system 616. Wireless communication system 616 can contain one or more of the following wireless communication systems, e.g., a near-field communication system 618, a wireless communication system utilizing the Bluetooth communication protocol 620, a wireless communication system utilizing the Wi-Fi communication protocol at 624, a mobile telephone communications protocol 622. The wireless communication protocol designated by LTE at 622 is given merely as an example for wireless devices and does not limit embodiments of the invention. Those of skill in the art will recognize that one or more antennas are included, but not shown for clarity, in the wireless communication system block 616.

The wireless sensor 640 has a high-level architecture, represented at 642, that includes one or more sensors 644 and a wireless communication system 646. The wireless communications system 646 can be a low data rate communications system such as a near-field communications system, BLE, ANT+, or the like. Or the wireless communication system 646 can be provided as a higher data rate system as required by the sensor(s) 644.

The mobile device 670 has a high-level architecture, represented at 672, that includes, a central processing unit 674, a source of electrical power 676, storage 678, and one or more wireless communication systems indicated at the block 680. The mobile device 670 can be optionally configured to reach remote networks as indicated by cloud 689. The wireless communication block 680 can include one or more of the following wireless communication systems, e.g., a near-field communication system 682, a wireless communication system utilizing the Bluetooth communication protocol 684, a wireless communication system utilizing the Wi-Fi communication protocol at 686, and a mobile telephone communications protocol at 688. The wireless communication protocol designated by LTE at 688 is given merely as an example of a communication system for mobile devices and does not limit embodiments of the invention. Those of skill in the art will recognize that one or more antennas are included, but not shown for clarity, in the wireless communication system block 680 and 642.

In some embodiments, the wireless sensor system 642 and the eyewear device 602 are configured initially by a user of the mobile device 670 and the mobile device user interface as indicated by pathways 652 a and 652 b. In operation, the eyewear device 602 receives data wirelessly as indicated at 650 from a suitable wireless communication system, such as for example a near-field communications system 618. Wireless data obtained from the wireless sensor system 642 can be transmitted to the user device 670/672 by another wireless communication system such as indicated at 654. The wireless communication indicated at 654 can be accomplished with a higher data rate channel using for example Bluetooth protocol at 620/684, or Wi-Fi protocols at 624/686, or mobile phone communications protocol indicated at 622/688. Data transferred from the eyewear device 602 can be stored and analyzed on the user device 670 in various embodiments and with different application programs.

FIG. 6B illustrates, generally at 690, wireless networks corresponding to the system architecture for the modularized eyewear device of FIG. 6A, according to embodiments of the invention. With reference to FIG. 6B, the wireless communication block 616 can connect to a plurality of devices as shown in the figure. For example, one or more wireless sensors 640 can connect to the wireless communication block 616 utilizing low data rate near-field communication networks as indicated at 618. One or more user devices 670 can communicate wirelessly with the wireless communication block using Bluetooth communication protocols as indicated at 620. One or more wireless nodes, such as Wi-Fi nodes indicated at 692 can communicate wirelessly with the wireless communication block 616 as indicated at 624. One or more remote networks 694 can communicate wirelessly with the wireless communication block 616 using cellular communication protocols as indicated at 622. Thus, a reconfigurable eyewear device can contain one or more of the wireless communication systems shown in the illustration at 690. An eyewear device can be reconfigured for different wireless communication by swapping for example one TIM module for another. Alternatively, one or more temples can be swapped with a frame chassis as described above to provide customized functionality to an eyewear device.

FIG. 7 illustrates, generally at 700, another system architecture for the modularized eyewear device of FIG. 4, according to embodiments of the invention. With reference to FIG. 7, the wireless communication block 616 of the eyewear device 602 can be configured for cellular communications via mobile telephone networks directly without needing a user device to function as an intermediary. For example, in 700, the eyewear device 602 is configured for communication with a remote device 702, which can be a mobile telephone, by a wireless communication system 622 thereby connecting with the remote device 702 directly through the external networks indicated by cloud 704. No intermediary user mobile device is needed to support this line of communication. Such a configuration of an eyewear device allows a user of the eyewear device to make telephone calls from the eyewear device with the assistance of an interface, such as a voice interface, one or more tactile interface like buttons, etc. The voice interface provides command and control of the telephone call by converting the user's voice signals to commands that the device uses to facilitate the operation of the wireless network for the telephone call. Examples of such commands are, but are not limited to; select caller, place call, volume up, volume down, end call, etc.

FIG. 8 illustrates, generally at 800, a block diagram of a temple insert module (TIM), according to embodiments of the invention. With reference to FIG. 8, as used in this description of embodiments, a TIM can be based on a device such as a computer, in which embodiments of the invention may be used. The block diagram is a high-level conceptual representation and may be implemented in a variety of ways and by various architectures. Bus system 802 interconnects a Central Processing Unit (CPU) 804 (alternatively referred to herein as a processor), Read Only Memory (ROM) 806, Random Access Memory (RAM) 808, storage 810, audio 822, user interface 824, and communications 830. RAM 808 can also represent dynamic random-access memory (DRAM) or other forms of memory. The user interface 824 can be in various embodiments a voice interface, a touch interface, a physical button, or combinations thereof. It is understood that memory (not shown) can be included with the CPU block 804. The bus system 802 may be for example, one or more of such buses as a system bus, Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI), Advanced Graphics Port (AGP), Small Computer System Interface (SCSI), Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) standard number 994 (FireWire), Universal Serial Bus (USB), universal asynchronous receiver-transmitter (UART), serial peripheral interface (SPI), inter-integrated circuit (I2C), etc. The CPU 804 may be a single, multiple, or even a distributed computing resource. Storage 810 may be flash memory, etc. Note that depending upon the actual implementation of a TIM, the TIM may include some, all, more, or a rearrangement of components in the block diagram. Thus, many variations on the system of FIG. 8 are possible.

Connection with one or more wireless networks 832 is obtained via communication (COMM) 830, which enables the TIM 800 to communicate wirelessly with local sensors, local devices, as well as with remote devices on remote networks. In some embodiments, 832/830 provide access to remote voice-to-text conversion systems which can be in remote locations for example cloud based. 832 and 830 flexibly represent wireless communication systems in various implementations, and can represent various forms of telemetry, general packet radio service (GPRS), Ethernet, Wide Area Network (WAN), Local Area Network (LAN), Internet connection, Wi-Fi, WiMAX, ZigBee, Infrared, Bluetooth, near-field communications, mobile telephone communications systems, such as 3G, 4G, LTE, 5G, etc. and combinations thereof. In various embodiments, a touch interface is optionally provided at 824. Signals from one or more sensors are input to the system via 829 and 828. Global position system (GPS) information is received and is input to the system at 826. Audio can represent a speaker such as a projection speaker or projection micro-speaker described herein.

In various embodiments, depending on the hardware configuration different wireless protocols are used in the networks to provide the systems described in the figures above. One non-limiting embodiment of a technology used for wireless signal transmission is the Bluetooth wireless technology standard which is also commonly known as IEEE 802.15.1 standard. In other embodiments, the wireless signal transmission protocol known as Wi-Fi is used which uses the IEEE 802.11 standard. In other embodiments, the ZigBee communication protocol is used which is based on the IEEE 802.15.4 standard. These examples are given merely for illustration and do not limit different embodiments. Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) and Internet Protocol (IP) are also used with different embodiments. Embodiments are not limited by the data communication protocols listed herein and are readily used with other data communication protocols not specifically listed herein.

In various embodiments, the components of systems as well as the systems described in the previous figures (such as a temple insert module (TIM)) are implemented in an integrated circuit device, which may include an integrated circuit package containing the integrated circuit. In some embodiments, the components of systems as well as the systems are implemented in a single integrated circuit die. In other embodiments, the components of systems as well as the systems are implemented in more than one integrated circuit die of an integrated circuit device which may include a multi-chip package containing the integrated circuit

FIG. 9 illustrates a modularized eyewear device fitted with a behind the neck module assembly, according to embodiments of the invention. With reference to FIG. 9, at 900, a behind the neck module assembly is fitted to a passive set of eyewear. Passive eyewear indicates that there are no electronics located in the eyewear. Alternatively, the eyewear can be active or powered eyewear, as described herein, configured with electronics packaged into one or more temples or temple insert modules (TIMs). The eyewear has a frame chassis 902 that contains lens 906. Coupled to the frame chassis 902 is a left temple 904 and a right temple 914. The behind the neck module assembly includes a behind the neck electronics pod (ePOD) 924, a left temple interlock 920 a right temple interlock 922, a left smart cord 926 and a right smart cord 928. The left smart cord 926 couples electrically and mechanically the ePOD 924 to the left temple interlock 920 and the right smart cord couples electrically and mechanically the ePOD 924 to the right temple interlock 922.

The left temple interlock 920 contains an acoustic cavity, an audio speaker, and an acoustic port. The acoustic port for the left audio speaker is indicated at 930. The left smart cord 926 contains electrical conductors that provide an audio signal for the audio speaker contained within the left temple interlock 920. In one or more embodiments, the audio speaker contained in the left temple interlock is a micro-projection speaker. Similarly, the acoustic port for the right audio speaker is indicated at 932. The right smart cord 928 contains electrical conductors that provide an audio signal for the audio speaker contained within the right temple interlock 922. In one or more embodiments, the audio speaker contained in the right temple interlock is a micro-projection speaker

In various embodiments, the ePOD 924 contains an electronics unit. The electronics unit contains the electronic components and functionality described herein for a temple insert module (TIM). In other words, the electronics unit is a TIM mechanically and electrically packaged for use in a behind the neck module assembly.

Electronics units having different electronic configuration and functionality can be swapped in and out of the ePOD in similar fashion to the way different TIMs are swapped into and out of a temple of an eyewear device.

At 950 a length adjustment is provided to shorten or lengthen the right smart cord and the left smart cord. A behind the neck electronics pod (ePOD) 954 is configured with a left smart cord 956 and a right smart cord 958 exiting the same end of the ePOD 954. Such a configuration of the smart cords 956 and 958 permit a slider 960 to move either away from the ePOD or toward the ePOD. Moving the slider 960 away from the ePOD 954 shortens the available free length of the smart cords 965/958. Moving the slider 960 towards the ePOD 954 increases the available free length of smart cords 956/958.

In one or more embodiments, in operation when in an “on” state, audio data is streamed to the electronics unit in the ePOD 924 and is directed to the left and right speakers for broadcast to a user when the behind the neck module assembly is installed on an eyewear device and the user wears the eyewear device.

FIG. 10 illustrates, generally at 1000, a behind the neck module assembly in perspective view configured with a wearable device, according to embodiments of the invention. With reference to FIG. 10, a first sensor 1050 is illustrated on the ePOD 924. A second sensor 1052 is illustrated incorporated into the right temple interlock 922. A third sensor 1054 is illustrated incorporated into the left temple interlock 920. The sensors 1050, 1052, and 1054 can be any of the sensors described herein previously described for use in a TIM or directly in electronics built into a temple.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 10, each temple interlock module, i.e., 920 and 922 contains a through hole into which a temple of the eyewear is inserted. In this embodiment, the temple interlock modules 920 and 922 are made from a compliant material such as an elastomer or rubber that permits elongation sufficient for a temple to be inserted therethrough. For example, the left temple interlock 920 contains a through hole 1040 into which the left temple 904 is inserted. The right temple interlock 922 contains a through hole 1042 into which the right temple 914 is inserted. Each of the temple interlocks 920 and 922 are positioned on a pair of compatible eyewear such that each of the speaker ports 930 and 932 are positioned in front of and near to a user's ear. Compatible eyewear is eyewear that is compatible with the mechanical attachment provided by the temple interlocks.

FIG. 11 illustrates, generally at 1100 and 1150, coupling a temple interlock to a temple according to embodiments of the invention. With reference to FIG. 11, at 1100 a magnetic temple interlock is illustrated. The magnetic temple interlock includes a magnetic region 1108 on a temple 1102 of an eyewear device. A temple interlock 1104 has a corresponding magnetic region 1106. In operation, the magnetic regions 1106 and 1108 are brought together, thereby causing the magnetic regions 1106 and 1108 to attract each other which provides a clamping force between the temple interlock 1104 and the temple 1102. A port of an acoustic cavity that contains a speaker is illustrated at 1110.

Another method of clamping is illustrated at 1150. A temple interlock 1152 contains a slot 1158 between a first side 1156 a and a second side 1156 b of compliant material. The geometry of 1158, 1156 a, and 1156 b forms a U shape into which a temple of an eyewear device can be inserted. The elasticity of the material 1152 provides a releasable coupling between the temple interlock 1152 and the temple of the eyewear (not shown). An acoustic port of an acoustic cavity that houses a speaker is indicated at 1154.

FIG. 12 illustrates, generally at 1200, coupling a behind the neck module to electronics contained within a temple, according to embodiments of the invention. With reference to FIG. 12, a behind the neck module assembly is coupled to electronics contained within a temple. A portion of a behind the neck module assembly is illustrated with a behind the neck electronics pod (ePOD) 1220, a left smart cord 1222, and a left temple interlock 1210. Any of the electronics contained with a temple, as previously described, can be contained directly within a temple without a temple insert module (TIM). Or alternatively, the electronics contained with the temple can be electronics that are part of a TIM, as indicated optionally at 1204. In either situation, a temple 1202 is provided with a number of electrical contacts indicated at 1206. A corresponding number of electrical contacts 1208 are provided in the left temple interlock 1210. A mechanical interlock between the temple 1202 and the left temple interlock 1210 is provided to make the connection between 1210 and 1202 releasably couplable. In one or more embodiments a magnetic coupling is provided near or at the location of 1206/1208 to provide a releasable coupling thereto.

FIG. 13 illustrates, generally at 1300, a schematic for combining a behind the neck module assembly with temple electronics, according to embodiments of the invention. With reference to FIG. 13, an outline of an eyewear device is indicated at 1302. The eyewear device 1302 contains electronics and or electronic pathways in a left temple, a right temple, and a frame chassis. The outline 1302 encompasses the frame chassis, left temple, and right temple. In the system depicted in the figure, an electronics path 1308 extends between the left temple and the right temple of the eyewear device 1302.

The eyewear device contains a left temple insert module (TIM) 1304 located in a left temple and a right TIM 1306 located in a right temple. A behind the neck module assembly with electronics unit (ePOD) is indicated at 1310. A left smart cord 1312 provides an electrical pathway between the ePOD 1310 and the left TIM 1304. A right smart cord 1314 provides an electrical pathway between the ePOD 1310 and the right TIM 1306. In various embodiments both the left TIM 1304 and the right TIM 1306 are configured with one or more wireless communication network systems that permit wireless communication between the left TIM 1304 and the right TIM 1306 as indicated at 1316. A remote device 1320 is representative of one or more wireless sensors or wireless user devices as described above in conjunction with the preceding figures. Wireless communication 1322 is accomplished between the remote device 1320 and at least one of the left TIM 1304, the right TIM 1306, and the ePOD 1310. All of the electronic system functionality described above with respect to a TIM is applicable to an ePOD such as ePOD 1310.

In some embodiments, a left temple is not electrically connected to a right temple, in such as case the electrical path 1308 is removed from the electrical schematic shown in 1300.

FIG. 14 illustrates, generally at 1400, a user interface on a behind the neck module assembly, according to embodiments of the invention. With reference to FIG. 14, a behind the neck electronics pod (ePOD) is illustrated at 1402. The ePOD 1402 has a display interface 1404. The display interface 1404 can be implemented in various ways in different embodiments. In some embodiments the user interface is a tactile surface button. In some embodiments, the user interface is implemented with a touch screen, such as a capacitive touch screen presenting one or more controls to a user. In some embodiments, the user interface communicates information to a user. In yet other embodiments, the user interface communicates information to a person who views the user interface 1404 from behind the user who is wearing the ePOD 1402. An example of such information is, but is not limited to, an emoji, mood status, icon, etc. as indicated at 1406.

FIG. 15 illustrates, generally at 1500, a block diagram for a behind the neck electronics unit, according to embodiments of the invention. With reference to FIG. 15, as used in this description of embodiments, a behind the neck electronics unit can be based on a device such as a computer, in which embodiments of the invention may be used. The block diagram is a high-level conceptual representation and may be implemented in a variety of ways and by various architectures. Bus system 1502 interconnects a Central Processing Unit (CPU) 1504 (alternatively referred to herein as a processor), Read Only Memory (ROM) 1506, Random Access Memory (RAM) 1508, storage 1510, audio 1522, user interface 1524, and communications 1530. RAM 1508 can also represent dynamic random-access memory (DRAM) or other forms of memory. The user interface 1524 can be in various embodiments a voice interface, a touch interface, a physical button, or combinations thereof. It is understood that memory (not shown) can be included with the CPU block 1504. The bus system 1502 may be for example, one or more of such buses as a system bus, Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI), Advanced Graphics Port (AGP), Small Computer System Interface (SCSI), Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) standard number 994 (FireWire), Universal Serial Bus (USB), universal asynchronous receiver-transmitter (UART), serial peripheral interface (SPI), inter-integrated circuit (I2C), etc. The CPU 1504 may be a single, multiple, or even a distributed computing resource. Storage 1510 may be flash memory, etc. Note that depending upon the actual implementation of a TIM, the TIM may include some, all, more, or a rearrangement of components in the block diagram. Thus, many variations on the system of FIG. 15 are possible.

Connection with one or more wireless networks 1532 is obtained via communication (COMM) 1530, which enables the TIM 1500 to communicate wirelessly with local sensors, local devices, as well as with remote devices on remote networks. In some embodiments, 1532/1530 provide access to remote voice-to-text conversion systems which can be in remote locations for example cloud based. 1532 and 1530 flexibly represent wireless communication systems in various implementations, and can represent various forms of telemetry, general packet radio service (GPRS), Ethernet, Wide Area Network (WAN), Local Area Network (LAN), Internet connection, Wi-Fi, WiMAX, ZigBee, Infrared, Bluetooth, near-field communications, mobile telephone communications systems, such as 3G, 4G, LTE, 5G, etc. and combinations thereof. In various embodiments, a touch interface is optionally provided at 1524. An optional display is provided at 1520. Signals from one or more sensors are input to the system via 1529 and 1528. Global position system (GPS) information is received and is input to the system at 1526. Audio can represent a speaker such as a projection speaker or projection micro-speaker described herein.

In various embodiments, depending on the hardware configuration different wireless protocols are used in the networks to provide the systems described in the figures above. One non-limiting embodiment of a technology used for wireless signal transmission is the Bluetooth wireless technology standard which is also commonly known as IEEE 802.15.1 standard. In other embodiments, the wireless signal transmission protocol known as Wi-Fi is used which uses the IEEE 802.11 standard. In other embodiments, the ZigBee communication protocol is used which is based on the IEEE 802.15.4 standard. These examples are given merely for illustration and do not limit different embodiments. Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) and Internet Protocol (IP) are also used with different embodiments. Embodiments are not limited by the data communication protocols listed herein and are readily used with other data communication protocols not specifically listed herein.

In various embodiments, the components of systems as well as the systems described in the previous figures (such as a behind the neck electronics unit) are implemented in an integrated circuit device, which may include an integrated circuit package containing the integrated circuit. In some embodiments, the components of systems as well as the systems are implemented in a single integrated circuit die. In other embodiments, the components of systems as well as the systems are implemented in more than one integrated circuit die of an integrated circuit device which may include a multi-chip package containing the integrated circuit

In various embodiments, the descriptions of embodiments provided herein provide reconfigurable components for head wearable devices. Reconfigurable components for head wearable devices include, but are not limited to, removable temples, removable temple insert modules (TIMs), a behind the neck module assembly, an electronics pod ePOD for a behind the neck module assembly and removable electronics units for ePODs.

For purposes of discussing and understanding the different embodiments, it is to be understood that various terms are used by those knowledgeable in the art to describe techniques and approaches. Furthermore, in the description, for purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of an embodiment. It will be evident, however, to one of ordinary skill in the art that an embodiment may be practiced without these specific details. In some instances, well-known structures and devices are shown in block diagram form, rather than in detail, in order to avoid obscuring various embodiments. These embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those of ordinary skill in the art to practice the invention, and it is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and that logical, mechanical, electrical, and other changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Some portions of the description may be presented in terms of algorithms and symbolic representations of operations on, for example, data bits within a computer memory. These algorithmic descriptions and representations are the means used by those of ordinary skill in the data processing arts to most effectively convey the substance of their work to others of ordinary skill in the art. An algorithm is here, and generally, conceived to be a self-consistent sequence of acts leading to a desired result. The acts are those requiring physical manipulations of physical quantities. Usually, though not necessarily, these quantities take the form of electrical or magnetic signals capable of being stored, transferred, combined, compared, and otherwise manipulated. It has proven convenient at times, principally for reasons of common usage, to refer to these signals as bits, values, elements, symbols, characters, terms, numbers, or the like.

It should be borne in mind, however, that all of these and similar terms are to be associated with the appropriate physical quantities and are merely convenient labels applied to these quantities. Unless specifically stated otherwise as apparent from the discussion, it is appreciated that throughout the description, discussions utilizing terms such as “processing” or “computing” or “calculating” or “determining” or “displaying” or the like, can refer to the action and processes of a computer system, or similar electronic computing device, that manipulates and transforms data represented as physical (electronic) quantities within the computer system's registers and memories into other data similarly represented as physical quantities within the computer system memories or registers or other such information storage, transmission, or display devices.

An apparatus for performing the operations herein can implement the present invention. This apparatus may be specially constructed for the required purposes, or it may comprise a general-purpose computer, selectively activated or reconfigured by a computer program stored in the computer. Such a computer program may be stored in a computer readable storage medium, such as, but not limited to, any type of disk including floppy disks, hard disks, optical disks, compact disk-read only memories (CD-ROMs), and magnetic-optical disks, read-only memories (ROMs), random access memories (RAMs), dynamic random access memories (DRAM), electrically programmable read-only memories (EPROM)s, electrically erasable programmable read-only memories (EEPROMs), FLASH memories, magnetic or optical cards, RAID, etc., or any type of media suitable for storing electronic instructions either local to the computer or remote to the computer.

The algorithms and displays presented herein are not inherently related to any particular computer or other apparatus. Various general-purpose systems may be used with programs in accordance with the teachings herein, or it may prove convenient to construct more specialized apparatus to perform the required method. For example, any of the methods according to the embodiments can be implemented in hard-wired circuitry, by programming a general-purpose processor, or by any combination of hardware and software. One of ordinary skill in the art will immediately appreciate that the embodiments can be practiced with computer system configurations other than those described, including hand-held devices, multiprocessor systems, microprocessor-based or programmable consumer electronics, digital signal processing (DSP) devices, set top boxes, network PCs, minicomputers, mainframe computers, and the like. The embodiments can also be practiced in distributed computing environments where tasks are performed by remote processing devices that are linked through a communications network.

The methods herein may be implemented using computer software. If written in a programming language conforming to a recognized standard, sequences of instructions designed to implement the methods can be compiled for execution on a variety of hardware platforms and for interface to a variety of operating systems. In addition, the embodiments are not described with reference to any particular programming language. It will be appreciated that a variety of programming languages may be used to implement the teachings of the embodiments as described herein. Furthermore, it is common in the art to speak of software, in one form or another (e.g., program, procedure, application, driver, . . . ), as taking an action or causing a result. Such expressions are merely a shorthand way of saying that execution of the software by a computer causes the processor of the computer to perform an action or produce a result.

It is to be understood that various terms and techniques are used by those knowledgeable in the art to describe communications, protocols, applications, implementations, mechanisms, etc. One such technique is the description of an implementation of a technique in terms of an algorithm or mathematical expression. That is, while the technique may be, for example, implemented as executing code on a computer, the expression of that technique may be more aptly and succinctly conveyed and communicated as a formula, algorithm, or mathematical expression. Thus, one of ordinary skill in the art would recognize a block denoting A+B=C as an additive function whose implementation in hardware and/or software would take two inputs (A and B) and produce a summation output (C). Thus, the use of formula, algorithm, or mathematical expression as descriptions is to be understood as having a physical representation in at least hardware and/or software (such as a computer system in which the techniques of the present invention may be practiced as well as implemented as an embodiment).

Non-transitory machine-readable media is understood to include any mechanism for storing information (such as program code, etc.) in a form readable by a machine (e.g., a computer). For example, a machine-readable medium, synonymously referred to as a computer-readable medium, includes read only memory (ROM); random access memory (RAM); magnetic disk storage media; optical storage media; flash memory devices; except electrical optical, acoustical or other forms of transmitting information via propagated signals (e.g., carrier waves, infrared signals, digital signals, etc.); etc.

As used in this description, “one embodiment” or “an embodiment” or similar phrases means that the feature(s) being described are included in at least one embodiment of the invention. References to “one embodiment” in this description do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment; however, neither are such embodiments mutually exclusive. Nor does “one embodiment” imply that there is but a single embodiment of the invention. For example, a feature, structure, act, etc. described in “one embodiment” may also be included in other embodiments. Thus, the invention may include a variety of combinations and/or integrations of the embodiments described herein.

While the invention has been described in terms of several embodiments, those of skill in the art will recognize that the invention is not limited to the embodiments described, but can be practiced with modification and alteration within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. The description is thus to be regarded as illustrative instead of limiting. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A reconfigurable component for use in an eyewear device, comprising; a first temple, the first temple is configured for use with the eyewear device, the first temple further comprising: a first engagement portion; a first temple insert module, wherein the first temple insert module is releasably couplable with the first engagement portion, the first temple insert module further comprising: a first wireless communication system, the first wireless communication system is configured to communicate wirelessly with a user device; a processor, the processor is configured to receive an input from the first wireless communication system and to generate an output; and a first speaker, the first speaker is configured to receive the output, in operation, when a user wears the eyewear device the user can hear audio broadcast from the first speaker when the first wireless communication system is in an on state.
 2. The reconfigurable component of claim 1, the first temple insert module further comprising: a first sensor.
 3. The reconfigurable component of claim 2, wherein the first sensor is a microphone.
 4. The reconfigurable component of claim 1, wherein the first speaker is a projection speaker.
 5. The reconfigurable component of claim 1, the first temple insert module further comprising: a first electrical pathway; and a first sensor, the first electrical pathway electrically couples the first sensor to the first temple insert module.
 6. The reconfigurable component of claim 5, further comprising: a display, the display is configured to receive a second input from the first temple insert module, the second input is used to project image information directly to a pupil of the user's eye.
 7. The reconfigurable component of claim 6, wherein the display is a head up display.
 8. The reconfigurable component of claim 5, wherein the first sensor is selected from the group consisting of a biometric sensor, a biomechanical sensor, a vehicle sensor, an environmental sensor, a temperature sensor, an acoustic sensor, a motion sensor, a light sensor, a touch sensor, a proximity sensor, a velocity sensor, an acceleration sensor, a rotation sensor, a magnetic field sensor, and a global position system (GPS) receiver.
 9. The reconfigurable component of claim 5, wherein the output includes a stream of content from the user device.
 10. The reconfigurable component of claim 9, wherein the stream of content is an audio stream.
 11. The reconfigurable component of claim 5, wherein the first temple insert module further comprising: a first storage device, wherein the output includes a stream of content that is stored on the first storage device.
 12. The reconfigurable component of claim 5, further comprising: a second temple, the second temple is configured for use with the eyewear device, the second temple further comprising: a second engagement portion; a second temple insert module, wherein the second temple insert module is releasably couplable with the second engagement portion, the second temple insert module further comprising: a second wireless communication system, the second wireless communication system is configured to the communicate with the first wireless communication system; and a second speaker, the first speaker is configured to receive an output of the second wireless communication system, wherein in operation when the user wears the eyewear device the user can hear audio broadcast from the second speaker when the second wireless communication system is in an on state
 13. The reconfigurable component of claim 12, wherein the first wireless communication system communicates with the second wireless communication system wirelessly and there is no wired connection between the first wireless communication system and the second wireless communication system.
 14. The reconfigurable component of claim 12, further comprising: an electrical pathway, the electrical pathway provides an electrical connection between the first temple insert module and the second temple insert module.
 15. The reconfigurable component of claim 14, further comprising: a chassis, the chassis has a first end and a second end, the first end is coupled to the first temple and the second end is coupled to the second temple, the electrical pathway is contained within a sheath of the chassis.
 16. The reconfigurable component of claim 14, further comprising: a brow bar, the brow bar contains a cavity, the brow bar is coupleable to the chassis and the electrical pathway is contained within the cavity.
 17. The reconfigurable component of claim 12, further comprising: a second sensor, the second sensor is configured for wireless communication with at least one of the first temple insert module and the second temple insert module.
 18. The reconfigurable component of claim 17, wherein the second sensor is selected from the group consisting of a biometric sensor, a biomechanical sensor, a vehicle sensor, an environmental sensor, a temperature sensor, an acoustic sensor, a motion sensor, a light sensor, a touch sensor, a proximity sensor, a velocity sensor, an acceleration sensor, a rotation sensor, a magnetic field sensor, and a global position system (GPS) receiver.
 19. The reconfigurable component of claim 18, wherein the biometric sensor or the biomechanical sensor measures a parameter associated with the user.
 20. The reconfigurable component of claim 18, wherein the vehicle is selected from the group consisting of a scooter, bicycle, an automobile, a boat, a yacht, a watercraft, an airplane, a military vehicle, and a wing suit.
 21. The reconfigurable component of claim 12, wherein the user device is selected from the group consisting of a mobile phone, a watch, a wrist band, a bracelet, a tablet computer, a laptop computer, a desktop computer, and a special purpose computer.
 22. A method to provide data to a user through an eyewear device, comprising: receiving data, wherein the receiving occurs at a first temple insert module and the temple insert module is contained within a temple of the eyewear device; and generating an audio signal, wherein the audio signal is generated by the temple insert module and the audio signal communicates the data to a user through a speaker, the speaker is part of the temple insert module.
 23. The method of claim 22, wherein the generating utilizes data received from a user device.
 24. The method of claim 23 wherein the data is a stream of audio data.
 25. The method of claim 23, wherein the data originates at a second sensor.
 26. The method of claim 25, wherein the second sensor is selected from the group consisting of a biometric sensor, a biomechanical sensor, a vehicle sensor, an environmental sensor, a temperature sensor, an acoustic sensor, a motion sensor, a light sensor, a touch sensor, a proximity sensor, a velocity sensor, an acceleration sensor, a rotation sensor, a magnetic field sensor, and a global position system (GPS) receiver.
 27. The method of claim 26, wherein the biometric sensor or the biomechanical sensor measures a parameter associated with the user.
 28. The method of claim 26, wherein the vehicle is selected from the group consisting of a scooter, bicycle, an automobile, a boat, a yacht, a watercraft, an airplane, a military vehicle, and a wing suit.
 29. A data processing system for use in an eyewear device, comprising: a data processing system, the data processing system is configured to process signals for broadcast to a user, the data processing system is contained within a first temple insert module, the first temple insert module is releasably coupleable to the eyewear device, and a computer readable medium containing executable computer program instructions, which when executed by the data processing system, cause the data processing system to perform a process comprising: receiving data; and generating an audio signal, wherein the audio signal is generated by the first temple insert module and the audio signal communicates the data to a user through a first speaker, the first speaker is part of the first temple insert module.
 30. The data processing system of claim 29, wherein the data originates at a sensor and the data is transmitted wirelessly to the temple insert module.
 31. The data processing system of claim 30, wherein a wireless protocol, utilized for the wireless transmission of the data, is selected from the group consisting of a near-field communication standard, a Bluetooth standard, a Wi-Fi standard, and a cellular communication standard.
 32. The data processing system of claim 29 further comprising: a second temple insert module, the second temple insert module is releasably coupleable to the eyewear device, and the process further comprising: providing wireless communication between the first temple insert module and the second temple insert module, the generating communicates the data to the user through a second speaker, the second speaker is part of the second temple insert module.
 33. The data processing system of claim 32, wherein a wireless protocol, utilized for wireless communication between the first temple insert module and the second temple insert module, is selected from the group consisting of Bluetooth and Wifi.
 34. The data processing system of claim 32, wherein a source of data is a user device, and a wireless protocol utilized for the wireless transmission of the data from the user device, is selected from the group consisting of Bluetooth and Wi-Fi.
 35. The data processing system of claim 32, wherein at least one of the first temple insert module and the second temple insert module is configured with a wireless radio transceiver configured for mobile telephone calls.
 36. The data processing system of claim 35, wherein a protocol used for the wireless radio transceiver is selected from the group consisting of 3G, 4G, 4GLTE, LTE, and 5G.
 37. The data processing system of claim 29, further comprising; a voice interface, the data processing system utilizes the voice interface to provide command and control derived from a user's audio commands.
 38. A reconfigurable component for use in an eyewear device, comprising; a first temple insert module, wherein the first temple insert module is releasably couplable with a first engagement portion of a first temple, the first temple is configured for use with the eyewear device, the first temple insert module further comprising: a first wireless communication system, the first wireless communication system is configured to communicate wirelessly with an external device; a processor, the processor is configured to receive an input from the first wireless communication system and to generate an output; and a first speaker, the first speaker is configured to receive the output, in operation, when a user wears the eyewear device that includes the first temple and the first temple insert module, the user can hear audio broadcast from the first speaker when the first temple insert module is in an on state.
 39. The reconfigurable component of claim 38, wherein the first temple insert module is configured with a wireless radio transceiver configured for mobile telephone calls.
 40. The reconfigurable component of claim 38, wherein data originates at an external sensor and the data is transmitted wirelessly to the first temple insert module.
 41. The data processing system of claim 40, wherein a wireless protocol, utilized for the wireless transmission of the data, is selected from the group consisting of a near-field communication standard, a Bluetooth standard, a Wi-Fi standard, and a cellular communication standard.
 42. The reconfigurable component of claim 38, wherein the input is a wireless source of data from a user device, and a wireless protocol utilized for the wireless transmission of the data from the user device, is selected from the group consisting of Bluetooth and Wifi.
 43. The reconfigurable component of claim 38, further comprising: a first lens and a second lens; and a chassis, the chassis is coupled with the first temple and a right temple to provide sunglasses for the user.
 44. The reconfigurable component of claim 38, further comprising: a display, the display is configured to receive an input from the first temple insert module, the input is used to project image information directly to a pupil of the user's eye.
 45. The reconfigurable component of claim 44, wherein the display is a head up display.
 46. The reconfigurable component of claim 38, further comprising: a first sensor.
 47. The reconfigurable component of claim 46, wherein the first sensor is selected from the group consisting of a biometric sensor, a biomechanical sensor, a vehicle sensor, an environmental sensor, a temperature sensor, an acoustic sensor, a motion sensor, a light sensor, a touch sensor, a proximity sensor, a velocity sensor, an acceleration sensor, a rotation sensor, a magnetic field sensor, and a global position system (GPS) receiver.
 48. A behind the neck module assembly for an eyewear device, comprising: an electronics pod, the electronics pod having an electronics unit, the electronics unit further comprising; a wireless communication system; and a processor, a left smart cord and a right smart chord; a left temple interlock, the left temple interlock containing a left speaker, and a right temple interlock, the right temple interlock containing a right speaker, wherein the left smart cord provides electrical and mechanical coupling between the electronics pod and the left temple interlock, the right smart cord provides electrical and mechanical coupling between the electronics pod and the right temple interlock, in operation when a left temple of the eyewear device is coupled with the left temple interlock and a right temple of the eyewear device is coupled with the right temple interlock, the wireless communication system receives data and provides an input signal to the processor, the processor provides an output to the right speaker and the left speaker such that a user can hear an audio signal from the right speaker and the left speaker.
 49. The behind the neck module assembly of claim 48, wherein the electronics unit is removably coupleable from the electronics pod.
 50. The behind the neck module assembly of claim 48, wherein the right temple interlock couples to a right temple of the eyewear device with a right coupling device.
 51. The behind the neck module assembly of claim 50, wherein the right coupling device is selected from the group consisting of a hole in an elastomer, an elastic clip, a detachable plate, and a magnet.
 52. The behind the neck module assembly of claim 48, the right temple interlock further comprising: a first right sensor, the first right sensor is electrically coupled to the electronics unit by the right smart cord.
 53. The behind the neck module assembly of claim 52, wherein the first right sensor is selected from the group consisting of a biometric sensor, a biomechanical sensor, a vehicle sensor, an environmental sensor, a temperature sensor, an acoustic sensor, a motion sensor, a light sensor, a touch sensor, a proximity sensor, a velocity sensor, an acceleration sensor, a rotation sensor, a magnetic field sensor, and a global position system (GPS) receiver.
 54. The behind the neck module assembly of claim 48, wherein the right temple interlock is a temple insert module, the right temple interlock further comprising: an electrical connector, the electrical connector provides electrical connection with the temple insert module.
 55. The behind the neck module assembly of claim 53, wherein the electrical connector is selected from the group consisting of multiple pins, multiple slots, and multiple pads.
 56. The behind the neck module assembly of claim 55, wherein the electrical connector is magnetic.
 57. The behind the neck module assembly of claim 48, wherein the wireless communication system is configured to communicate with an external sensor utilizing a near field communication system standard.
 58. The behind the neck module assembly of claim 48, wherein the wireless communication system is configured to communicate with a user device utilizing a standard selected from the group consisting of Bluetooth and Wi-Fi.
 59. The behind the neck module assembly of claim 48, wherein the electronics pod is configured with a wireless radio transceiver configured for mobile telephone calls.
 60. The behind the neck module assembly of claim 591, wherein a protocol used for the wireless radio transceiver is selected from the group consisting of 3G, 4G, 4GLTE, LTE, and 5G.
 61. The behind the neck module assembly of claim 60, further comprising: a user interface, the user interface is configured to enable a user to adjust a parameter selected from the group consisting of power, volume, a call parameter, and a system state.
 62. The behind the neck module assembly of claim 61, wherein the user interface utilizes a control selected from the group consisting of a button, a knob, a capacitive touch control, a data display, and a voice interface.
 63. The behind the neck module assembly of claim 48, further comprising: a length adjustment slider, the length adjustment slider is configured to slidingly engage with the left smart cord and the right smart cord and is operable by a user, the length adjustment slider has two states, a sliding state and a stationary state, in the stationary state the length adjustment slider does not slide relative to the left smart cord and the right smart cord.
 64. A method to provide data to a user from a behind the neck module assembly for an eyewear device, comprising: receiving data, wherein the receiving occurs at an electronics unit and the electronics unit is contained within an electronics pod of the behind the neck module; and generating an audio signal, wherein the audio signal is generated by the electronics unit and the audio signal communicates the data to the user through at least one of a left projection speaker and a right projection speaker, the left projection speaker is part of a left temple interlock and the right projection speaker is part of a right temple interlock, wherein a left smart cord couples the left temple interlock to the electronics pod and a right smart cord couples the right temple interlock to the electronics pod.
 65. The method of claim 64, wherein the receiving includes data from a sensor located on at least one of the left temple interlock, the left smart cord, the right temple interlock, the right smart cord, and the electronics pod.
 66. The method of claim 64, further comprising: receiving data from a user interface, the user interface is part of the electronics pod.
 67. The method of claim 64, wherein the receiving includes data from an external sensor.
 68. The method of claim 67, wherein the external sensor is selected from the group consisting of a biometric sensor, a biomechanical sensor, a vehicle sensor, an environmental sensor, a temperature sensor, an acoustic sensor, a motion sensor, a light sensor, a touch sensor, a proximity sensor, a velocity sensor, an acceleration sensor, a rotation sensor, a magnetic field sensor, and a global position system (GPS) receiver.
 69. The method of claim 64, wherein the receiving includes data from a user device utilizing a standard selected from the group consisting of Bluetooth and Wi-Fi.
 70. The method of claim 64, wherein the receiving includes data obtained with a wireless radio transceiver from a mobile telephone call.
 71. The method of claim 70, wherein a protocol used for the wireless radio transceiver is selected from the group consisting of 3G, 4G, 4GLTE, LTE, and 5G.
 72. The method of claim 64, wherein the receiving includes data from at least one of a right temple insert module and a right temple insert module.
 73. The method of claim 64, further comprising: receiving a control input from a user interface, wherein the control input controls the electronics unit. 